Dear Kanchan, my boss is asking me to show my offer letter so he can bargain and get me the same package in the current company. Is this fair? What should I do?

Ans: Ishita Madam, Your daughter faces an excellent choice between Computer Science at IIIT Vadodara and Civil/Mechanical Engineering at a NIT, representing a decision between specialized technical education versus broader engineering foundation at a more prestigious institutional brand. IIIT Vadodara CS demonstrates strong placement performance with 97.21% placement rate in 2023, though this declined significantly to 50% in 2024, with average packages of INR 15.43 LPA in 2023 and INR 11.34 LPA in 2024. The institute holds no NIRF ranking in the top 100 engineering category but maintains solid industry connections with companies like Amazon, Adobe, Samsung, and Microsoft participating in placements. NIT Civil Engineering shows moderate placement performance with 63.79% placement rate at institutions like NIT Kurukshetra, while NIT Mechanical Engineering achieves superior performance with 86% placement rate and established industry partnerships. NITs maintain significantly higher institutional prestige with top NITs like NIT Trichy ranked 9th in NIRF Engineering rankings 2024, NIT Surathkal at 17th, and NIT Rourkela at 19th position. Computer Science offers 16% job growth compared to 15% for civil engineering, with CS providing broader career flexibility and higher industry demand. However, NITs provide government-funded quality education, established alumni networks, and superior brand recognition for long-term career prospects. Recommendation: Choose IIIT Vadodara CS for superior placement consistency in the rapidly growing technology sector, specialized education in high-demand computing skills, and better career prospects despite NIT's institutional prestige, as CS offers greater industry alignment and growth opportunities. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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